Do you want to be an Eye Physician and Surgeon? Pearls to pursuing a career in Ophthalmology Daniel Laroche MD President Adanced Eyecare of New York www.advancedeyecareny.com

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Do you want to be an Eye Physician and
Surgeon?Pearls to pursuing a career in
OphthalmologyDaniel Laroche MDPresidentAdanced
Eyecare of New Yorkwww.advancedeyecareny.com
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Academics

• Academics
• Top grades
• Competitive Board Scores
• Try to be AOA, top tier of class, first and
  foremost many programs use a cut off to determine
  whom they interview

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Clinical rotations

• Try to obtain early exposure clinically with
  rotations in the department of Ophthalmology at
  both your local institution and others.
• Participate in community ophthalmology health
  screenings, shadow ophthalmology physicians or
  residents
• Work hard demonstrating your passion
• Read up on all the clinical cases you see and be
  prepared
• See as many patients as you can
• Present patients
• Work up patients learning the eye history,
  physical exam, and try to learn how to use the
  slit lamp if possible before you start your
  rotations to obtain maximum experience

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Clinical Rotations

• Be the first present and last to leave
• Demonstrate commitment and excellence
• Be efficient
• Be pleasant, demonstrate your ability to work
  with others, be reliable, smart, motivated
• Faculty would like to know that it will be easy
  to work with you and you will get along with
  other residents
• Faculty also want to see that youre bright,
  ethical, hard working
• Write a list of questions to discuss at the end
  of the day since practices often move quickly
• Try to take time to learn the decision making
  process of the physician goes through
• Learn about new technology, equipment, the
  thinking behind their use is just has important
  as being technically proficient
• Observe how physicians talk to their patients
  and manage treatment and expectations

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Research

• Identify an individual with whom you can work in
  the department that you can do a research project
  with
• Present at a National Meeting such as AAO
  (American Academy of Ophthalmology) , NMA
  (National Medical Association- through Rabb
  Venable Program) ARVO (Association for research
  in Ophthalmology, WIO (Women in Ophthalmology)
• Try to publish abstract or paper
• This will demonstrate your ability to assist with
  various department research efforts that may be
  taking place

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Relationships

• Try to build relationships with ophthalmology
  faculty
• Do not be discouraged
• Seek out supportive individuals, Ophthalmology
  Rabb Venable Program at the NMA has a great
  number of Mentors
• Let them know of your interest
• Ask for guidance and opportunities that may exist
  at your local institution
• Attend Ophthalmology Grand rounds
• Attend local or national ophthalmology conferences

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Application

• Get your application in early
• Personal Statement should be 1 page, well
  written, focused, unique describing you, your
  experiences and thoughts
• Spend a great deal of time on each sentence of
  this and ensure no grammatical errors
• Surprisingly many people have spelling mistakes
  weakening their application

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Obtain Strong letters of recommendations

• Request a letter or recommendation from a
  physician/researcher you have worked with to
  write a strong letter of recommendation
• Share your resume and personal statement with the
  person writing your letter
• However the person writing your letter should
  have worked with you clinically or academically
  and be able to give strong support to your
  application
• Dont have to have done research in ophthalmology
  but it helps

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Interview

• During the interview we want to see
• Do we like you?
• Do we feel you will get along with the other
  residents?
• Can you be trained to be an excellent
  ophthalmologist?
• Are you receptive to teaching?
• Do you have any personality disorder?
• Are you unpleasant
• Do you really want this?
• Will you be able to pass your boards?
• Do your homework about the program research the
  program and be read to ask questions know the
  faculty and some of their interest areas so that
  you can have a meaningful conversation

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Interview

• Why would you like be an ophthalmologist?
• How did you become interested in medicine? In
  ophthalmology?
• What do you see yourself doing 5-10 years from
  now?
• How do you best learn?
• Howe do you best teach?
• How do you like to spend your free time?
• What was the last book you read?
• Be prepared to discuss everything on your CV
• Seek out a mock interview to become more
  comfortable

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After the interviews

• See which program you liked
• Review the pros and cons of each program
• Write a thank you note to the Chairman and the
  person you interviewed with
• Dont forget the secretary
• Highlight what you liked about the program

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Internship

• Medical vs Surgical Internships
• Recommend Medical Internship to increase fund of
  knowledge of general medicine
• Many eye diseases have systemic medical issues

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What happens if you do not match

• Look for ophthalmology pre-residencies
• Try to find out weakness in application
• See if weakness can be overcome
• If weakness cannot be overcome will have to rely
  on a relationship with a program chair or leader
  that will be willing to take you with that
  weakness at a later date
• Can also try a different residency as a back up
  and consider re-applying later

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Thanks

• NMA Ophthalmology Section
• Rabb Venable Program
• Mildred Olivier MD
• Eydie Miller MD
• Karen Young MD